Man at War – Excerpt No. 140

28 January 2026

Again the man smiled, but she had seen warmer mugshots from hardened criminals. At least he’s trying.

“Avoid the east wing for the next week or so,” Cecil said.

Evelyn was slowly making her way through The Grand decorating rooms as inspiration struck. Occasionally there were mechanical issues affecting the lighting and ventilation, but those rarely hindered her progress.

“I’m hesitant to ask why,” Evelyn said while flashing a smile.

a cinematic photo of a prison mugshot of a hardened criminal with a stern expression, dressed in worn and tattered clothing, set against a dull gray background, with a wooden chair and a numerical identification plaque, in a style reminiscent of 1915 Canada, with a sepia-toned aesthetic, and a sense of grit and realism, the criminal's facial features are rugged with a strong jawline, piercing eyes, and a distinctive scar above his left eyebrow, his skin is pale with a hint of stubble, the overall mood is somber and ominous, the photography style is formal and straightforward, with a shallow depth of field, and a slight grain to the image, capturing the harsh realities of crime and punishment in early 20th century Canada.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.